Son Heung-min to be Most Watched Player in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Kathmandu. South Korean football icon Son Heung-min has emerged as the most watched player in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He will captain his team 'Taeguk Warriors' in the tournament for the fourth time. Currently playing professional football for Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in the United States, Son is aiming to break Cha Bum-kun's all-time record of 58 goals for South Korea in this tournament. There are several key reasons why Son is seen as a major attraction in this World Cup. Firstly, his unparalleled leadership in the team. Son's World Cup experience is expected to be very important for the South Korean team, which consists of the most experienced and a mix of experienced and young players. The second reason is that he is on the verge of making history. With only two goals behind Cha Bum-kun's record, Son is highly motivated to add to his goal tally in World Cup matches and create new history. Furthermore, his proximity to the North American region is another strong point. His decision to leave Europe and join MLS club LAFC was strategic, allowing him to acclimatize well to the North American weather, altitude, and local time zones before the World Cup. Son, considered the backbone of the national team, has a very strong international record. He has played 144 matches for South Korea so far, scoring 56 goals. In the main tournaments of the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, he has played a total of 10 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers alone, he contributed significantly with 10 goals and 4 assists. His recent form has also been excellent. In an international friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on the eve of the World Cup, he scored 2 goals as South Korea won 5-0. Regarding club football, after a historic decade in Europe, Son has been active in the American league MLS since 2025. For Los Angeles FC, in the ongoing 2026 season, he has played a total of 21 matches in the MLS regular season and CONCACAF Champions Cup, scoring 2 goals and providing 14 assists. In the 2025 season, he participated in only 13 matches, performing impressively with 12 goals and 3 assists. Before LAFC, he had a historic run with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur from 2015 to 2025. For Tottenham, he registered 173 goals and 101 assists in a total of 454 appearances. In the Premier League, Son won the prestigious 'Golden Boot' by scoring 23 goals in the 2021-22 season. He is also the first Asian player in Premier League history to cross the 50 and 100 goal milestones. Having showcased his magic in both Europe and America, this forward is looking to take South Korea to new heights in this World Cup.